Belief that suspect had gun necessitated dog bite during Roseville arrest
Sterling Heights K9 handler, trainer completes testimony
Attorney Arthur Weiss, representing suspended Sterling Heights police officer James Sribniak, makes a point while questioning officer and police dog trainer Jeremy Walleman during Scribniak and fellow suspended office Jack Currie’s preliminary examination Tuesday in 39th District Court in Roseville.
An expert in police-dog handling testified that Sterling Heights officers’ belief that a suspect possessed a gun as they tried to arrest him was the single biggest factor in their proper use of force — in the form of a dog bite — against a suspect.
Officer Jeremy Wallman, who heads the Sterling Heights police K9 unit and is a nationally certified dog–handler trainer, continued his testimony Tuesday afternoon at the preliminary examination for suspended Sterling Heights officers James Sribniak and Jack Currie in 39th District Court in Roseville.
Each of the officers face two felonies for Sribniak’s use of a dog bite by police dog “Dusty” of suspect Garry (also Gary) Young during his 2024 arrest on a grassy berm at Gratiot Avenue at the Interstate-94 exit-entrance ramps in Roseville.
From the witness stand, Walleman agreed with an assertion by Currie’s defense attorney, Dan Garon, that “the belief he (Young) had a gun puts it at a different level. It was like an environment of death waiting to happen.”
That statement, verbalized in the form of a question, was objected to by Assistant Attorney General Robert Hayes, but Walleman agreed again when asked whether possible possession of a gun by Young was the “overriding factor” in the use of force.
Minutes earlier, Walleman noted the fear Young had a gun as he “was moving (his hand) to his waistband,” during questioning by Sribniak’s attorney, Arthur Weiss.
Another witness in the case, former Sterling Heights officer Darren Steele, during his testimony referred to the up-and-down movement of Young’s hands while he rolled around on a grassy berm, calling it “concerning” because he could have been trying to reach for a gun.
Another witness testified Young’s elbow position during the altercation could’ve been a sign of a possible weapon retrieval.
A gun magazine, which stores bullets, was found on the ground under Young and was noted by an officer during the incident. However, it was a police officer’s clip, and no gun was found with Young.
Under questioning by Assistant Attorney General Robert Hayes, Walleman said Young’s actions prior to the altercation — including the allegation he “choked” his girlfriend, as well as fleeing police and driving dangerously — should be taken into account in determining whether use of force was proper.
“I feel this was an acceptable use of force for this situation … with all of the information the officers had at the time,” Walleman said.
Young was punched over a dozen times and kicked three times by Currie. Young failed to put his hands behind his back as commanded and clenched his fists. He kicked Sribniak in the head, though it was after the dog bite and Young testified it was accidental.
Young testified in July his injuries from the alleged assault include the bite in the right hip, brain bleeding, vision problems due to a broken blood vessel in his eye and PTSD, for which he is receiving counseling. He said his memory has been impacted.
Young, who is Black, said he initially fled police because he was scared, it was dark and white police officers were pointing guns at him.
For his actions, Young, 37, was sentenced in March by Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Richard Caretti to 30 days in jail after pleading guilty in January to driving while intoxicated with the presence of a controlled substance, third-degree fleeing police and resisting arrest.
Sribniak and officer Jack Currie, who are both suspended, are each charged with one count of misconduct in office, punishable by up to five years in jail, and assault with a dangerous weapon, punishable by up to four years for the incident. Currie is charged with aiding and abetting.
Tuesday was the fifth day of the hearing. A final witness, a defense expert, is expected to testify next Tuesday. Judge Alyia Hakim could rule at that time on whether the pair should be bound over to Macomb County Circuit Court, or rule later.
Several of the officers’ family members have attended the hearings.
Originally Published: September 3, 2025 at 9:34 AM EDT
